Step Into Earth Science!

Sterling Hill Mine Tour and Museum

by Mary Jasch

Gem lovers, adventurers, history buffs take note! A
labyrinth of marbleized tunnels gilded by a multi-color glow of fluorescent
minerals below the earth awaits at Sterling Hill Mining Museum.

The conveyor belt and ore tanks of the old mill looms above the
Mine Run Collecting Dump and turn-of-the-century warehouse. It is
now the Concession Building that houses the snack bar and gift shop.
Photo by Mary Jasch.

For years I heard of the gems once found in the mines of the Skylands
Region: rubies, sapphires, garnet. The mines were an image of the past,
ancestral, remote, almost exotic, and filled with gorgeous crystals of
pink rhodonite, the rainbow colors of willemite, blood-red garnet and
other precious beauties. They were a destination to see and maybe find,
if I were lucky, a treasure all my own. Then a few weeks ago, I heeded
the call of the mines. I was not disappointed.

As I turned onto Route 517 in Sussex County, I spotted the old brick
buildings and remains of a mining mill tucked against the hillside overlooking
the country town of Ogdensburg. Small cottages, once lived in by miners
and their families, cluster near the old general store. Larger houses,
just across the street from the mine, were occupied by the bosses so
they didn't have to walk so far.

In the northwest town of Ogdensburg, Sterling Hill Mine is home to a
world famous collection of minerals and fluorescent rocks. This geological
gem contains over 340 mineral species, the largest combination anywhere,
and over 70 of them fluoresce, the most in any spot on earth. The district
is known as "The Fluorescent Capital of the World." Additionally, 35
of the minerals are rare, and are found nowhere else in the world. Sterling
Hill Mine, and its sister mine in Franklin, have the richest deposit
of zinc ore in the world, where it is mined as oxides and silicates without
a sulfur component like in other mines. These phenomena have earned Sterling
Hill Mine two titles of distinction: National Historic Site and a Mines,
Metal and Men Site.

Dick and Bob Hauck envisioned the Sterling Hill Mining Museum

Ogdensburg was once a company town owned by the New Jersey Zinc Company.
The mine closed in 1986, and in 1987 Dick Hauck and his brother Bob bought
it at a tax sale. Two years later they turned it over to a non-profit,
educational foundation, The Sterling Hill Mining Museum, dedicated to
the preservation of the mine and its historical significance. Last year,
over 33,000 people came to see the splendor of the mine's natural fluorescence,
and the awesomeness of the tunnels made by man.

Sterling Hill Mine is a place where miners once blasted walls with black
powder looking for zinc-filled ore, and others drilled ten-foot core
samples trying to find the richest source. It's a place where workers
wore self-rescuers. A place where muckers, drillers, and timbermen dug
and blasted their own tunnels, and men carried dynamite on their backs
- they "humped powder".

Sheave wheels rest in
front of the mine's original air shaft in the side of the mountain.
Photo by Mary Jasch.

Today, you enter the mine through a ten-foot wide, horizontal tunnel
called the "adit". Side tunnels shooting off the adit were added by the
Foundation for ease in touring, but usually an adit went directly to
a vertical tunnel, or "shaft" where men and materials were transported.
The floors, walls and ceilings are Franklin marble, marbleized limestone,
metamorphosed since its deposition in Pre-Cambrian times over 1.1 billion
years ago.

As you walk further into the adit the huge wooden "air doors", once
closed to keep the bad air out as part of the mine's air circulation
system, are now swung wide. There are steel "square sets", sets of three
steel beams used now instead of timber, fitted tight against the walls
and ceiling to provide support after the tunnel was blasted and the ore
cleared out. It's easy to imagine the miners stopping in the lamp room
to pick up their lamps and "self-rescuers", small canisters that converted
carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, that lasted fifteen minutes.

Directly ahead is a monstrous, slanted gap in the marble. It's the main
shaft that rises 150 feet, and drops nearly 2,000 feet down into the
earth. The 53° angled shaft parallels the tilt of the orebody, a
deposit that contains a large amount of zinc, that follows the dip of
the mountain. You stand under the "footwall", or the underside, of the
orebody that extends the length of the hillside the adit's dug into.
The shaft has five compartments, four with roller-coaster-like tracks,
and one for cables, pipes, and ladders. Two sets of tracks bring skips
filled with ore up out of the mine and two sets carry cages that hold
40 men and materials. The shaft connects 18 levels that are approximately
100 vertical feet apart.

Walk past the end of the adit on a steel bridge over the "orepass",
an angled pit that once ended at a rock crusher, but is now filled with
water. Every level of the mine is connected to it. The original mine
ends here as you walk through more adits and "stopes", rooms within the
orebody itself where the ore was extracted. These were dug more recently
by the Sterling Hill Mine Foundation.

"Drifts" are tunnels that give access to the orebody. One marble wall
shows a "drift round", a series of holes drilled into a tunnel wall that
are ready to be filled with explosives for blasting. Some of the men
lit fuses on sticks of dynamite with the lights on the front of their
hats. You had three minutes to find safety. From the blast, the rock
exploded and filled the stope with broken ore of all sizes.

In
the stope, in the black willemite zone, the "slusher" machine scrapes
the fallen ore into a 4-foot diameter shaft sunk into the floor. The
driver sits behind a screen, like a medieval windshield, made of steel
bars and heavy chain to protect his face from getting thrashed by machinery
cables that might break and whip back. Sometimes "muckers" worked, shoveling
broken ore into cars. The shaft dumps ore into a car on the level below,
then the car dumps the ore into the orepass. A "grizzly", or huge mesh-like
screen in the orepass, catches the larger rocks that might clog the crushers.
A man stood by, whose job was to beat these rocks with a sledge-hammer
until they fit through the grizzly. The rock flows to a giant crusher
machine, over a thousand feet below ground. The crushed ore drops to
lower levels into skips that are hoisted to the surface, then on to the
mill. In the mine, gravity moves most everything between levels. The
emptied stope gets back-filled with waste-rock and a cement cap to prevent
cave-ins. There are "raises" at each end of the stope ­ skinny shafts
that connect levels and allow air circulation.

A
fault cracks through the walls of the Rainbow Tunnel. Its surfaces gleam
with flowstone. In other spots, the fault is highly polished forming
a "slick and slide" from just the right amount of pressure over time.
The Rainbow Room's walls and ceiling fluoresce with what the Sterling
Hill Mine is famous for - the red of calcite in the marbleized limestone
and the bright green of willemite, used to track the orebody.

The way to the Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence is through one
of the original entrances to the mine that was buried for 100 years.
The Haucks saw concrete foundations sticking above the earth and began
digging. "It was sort of like digging out King Tut's tomb, it got bigger
and bigger, " describes Bob Hauck, treasurer and facilitator of the Foundation.
The early, extensive underground mine complex of Sterling Hill was started
from 1830 to 1850, then in 1915 the company built an eight-story mill
above ground for processing the zinc ore and housing the locker room
where the miners showered and changed. It was torn down in the 1960s.
The below-ground level is all that remains of the mill, and it's now
the Geo Tech Center, with the Museum of Fluorescence as part of it. And
all that glitters is not gold ­ it's fluorite, willemite, and calcite
too.

"The Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence is the greatest fluorescent
center on earth," explains Ron Mishkin, a tour guide and one of the last
remaining miners. Rocks were brought in from all over the world and some
are from the mine. Fluorescent rocks were not important to the NJ Zinc
Company, so they were not mined for their fluorescence. "It's the mecca
of fluorescence," adds Hauck.

Visit the museum, once the miners' locker room, with
artifacts from
mining days, including, baskets and clothes
hung high to dry.

When mysteries remain in nature, people reflect. Theories abound why
the Sterling Hill and Franklin Mines have the only zinc veins with oxides
and silicates and no sulfur ­ just franklinite, willemite, and zincite. "In
order to get three minerals together and mine 33 million tons of them
that haven't been mined anywhere else, it's a phenomenon," says Mishkin. "Something
had to happen to cause the sulfur to go away to leave silicates and oxygen." One
theory is that an undersea "smoker" spewed hot water up and deposited
minerals heavy in iron, manganese and zinc onto the ocean floor in layers.
During a billion years, mountain building, glaciation, fracturing and
erosion affected the form of the mineral deposits into metamorphic rock.
Glaciers melted and caused oxidation and water poured through the soft
limestone to the ore deposit, causing a chemical reaction that changed
the minerals. Over ten years worth of zinc ore is left in the mine, but
the cost of removal exceeds its value. Most of the ore left is in the
upper levels. The miners worked from bottom up.

There is much to see and do at the Sterling Hill Mine. Visit the museum,
once the miners' locker room, with artifacts from mining days, baskets
and clothes hung high to dry, boulders, gems, fossils, machinery, and
an antique safe that weighs 5 tons that houses native gold from everywhere.
Mine your own treasures of fluorescent minerals, crystals, and other
rare specimens in the "dump". Dig through the section with rocks from
all over the globe. They were brought up from the mine before it flooded
when the mine closed.

Yes, the mine and museum were everything I had envisioned. You can experience
the sense of men from not so long ago, whose job was to mine metals from
the earth, while exposing the mineralogical richness and beauty and geological
mysteries of the Skylands. Their mystique survives.

Sterling Hill Mining Museum is open for public tours. Visit the website for current tour schedule and special events.
30 Plant Street, Ogdensburg, NJ 973-209-7212.

Upcoming Events

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Comments

I am pleased to announce that Radford University has a new Science Building
complete with a new Geology Museum. Anyone in the Southwest Virginia area
may wish to visit. The Museum will have a display of fluorescent and
non-fluorescent Franklin Marble minerals collected from the New Jersey Zinc
Company mines at Franklin and Odgensburg (Sterling Hill) plus other mines
and quarries of nearby New Jersey communities. The Franklin Marble display
is scheduled to open in early 2017. Contact curator, Stephen Lenhart, for
opening date, hours, and group tour scheduling. slenhart@radford.edu

Hello...I just found this page, and I'm so excited. We are related, and I
remember hearing stories about the Stirling Hill Mine. Dorothy Hauck was
my grandmom, and her brother was my "uncle Ade". I think you guys were
children of Fred, maybe? Everyone has passed on now, and I only have a few
memories left. My maternal grandfather was a rockhound, as was my mom, and
I am just fascinated by the fluorescent minerals. Would love to get up
there one day, before it's too late. Kindest regards, and memories! Lynn
Rutan

Robert Hauck14 Mar 2013, 09:54

James, yes.. Visit sterlinghill.org and look at the mineral collection page
for full details

James W. Griffin13 Mar 2013, 11:02

Do you allow the adult (old timer) rockhounds to have an area to look for
rocks? If so what is the cost ?

tedwin/leslie yepez02 Dec 2012, 10:30

back in october 1996 i took my wife leslie son alex and joshua yepez to
visit this beatifull place , today looking true album of pictures when were
is used to leave in hawthorne new jersey we had great expirience we had
great tyme thank you, one day he may come back to visit.

Sandra Hand04 Nov 2011, 13:00

Very cool! Liked the article. I'd like to have stones from the area myself.

Hi\r\njust wanted to say that I visited the museum about 7 years ago and
thought it was the best trip and informative family visit I have had in a
long time!\r\nall the rocks and artifacts are organized, grouped, presented
and labeled in an artful, wonderful, and magical way...\r\nAnyone looking
for a family outing cannot go wrong.\r\nthanks again for the wonderful
experience!

Robert Hauck Jr05 May 2011, 08:30

I am the son of one of the founders of the mine and love all the nice
things that have been said about the mine. Both my father and uncle have
worked very hard to preserve this treasure. The mine is handicap accessible
and anyone can collect minerals every day the the mine is open.

the sterling hill mining museum is the best place to go.today june 16,
\r\nI went there with my class from Madison Monroe school #16 N.J.

ELLEN"WILSON " LEACH28 May 2010, 17:22

MY DAD ,DENZIL WILSON, MY MOTHER LAURA AND MYSELF LIVED ON HIGHLAND AVENUE
IN OGDENSBURG. BEFORE I WAS BORN, MOM AND DAD LIVED ON STERLING HILL, CAUSE
DAD WAS A SHIFT BOSS AT THE MINE. HE STARTED AS A MUCKER AND WORKED HIS WAY
UP. HE WORKED THERE ALMOST 50 YEARS, BEFORE HE HAD TO RETIRE BECAUSE OF A
STROKE.HE HAD A MAGNIFICENT MINERAL COLLECTION IN OUR BASEMENT IN NEWTON.I
WOULD BRING MY LITTLE FRIENDS IN TO SEE THE MINERALS HE HAD SO BEAUTIFULLY
DISPLAYED,UNDER BLACK LIGHT. MY FRIENDS JUST LOVED IT. HE WOULD TELL ME AS
A CHILD HOW HE WOULD GO DOWN IN THE MINE ON ONE CABLE AND GO SO DEEP THAT
THE HOLE ABOVE HIM WOULD COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR. I COULD HEAR THE PLANT
WHISTLE BLOW EVERY DAY FROM WHERE WE LIVED ACROSS FROM BORO HALL ON
HIGHLAND AVENUE.I AM GOING TO GO TO ONE OF THE MINE TOURS SOON, I AM HOPING
TO FIND A PICTURE OF MY DAD, HE DIED IN 1987 AT THE AGE OF 87.

David Rudderow03 Jan 2010, 21:30

My daughter is just getting into rock/gem collecting. Can we dig at the
mine or somewhere near by.\r\n\r\nThank you\r\n\r\nDavid

juliana t20 Oct 2009, 14:47

hello, i am a student that goes to an elementary school in Parsippany. i
visited the mine last week and was fascinated to find out all the facts
about this mine. i have to do a project on the mine and the museum but i am
not sure what facts to put down because there are so many. anyway, i just
wanted to point out that i had a great time at this mine and hope to go
back another day.

Hi!\r\n\r\nA nicely written article! I must admit, though I lived there
from 1948 to 1954 when I left for college, I could never go into the mine,
even though I wanted to do so! Even if Dad was a shift boss! I woke every
morning to the rattle of those big wheels as the "skip" was lowered into
the mine. However, my Dad told me "study and do anything you want to, but
DON'T become a Mining Engineer". SO...I became a Mechanical Engineer (an
ME!). My parents moved to near us in VT in 1984, but I did return in 2004
for my 50th reunion of Franklin High School. Yeah, you guessed, I'm an
OF.\r\n\r\nThanks for writing such a nice and informative article about a
real mineral treasure.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\nClarke Hermance\r\n

Betty Elsea18 Aug 2009, 07:13

I really enjoyed reading this article. I knew a miner who worked in the
mine and I have lots of minerals from the mine.I would go there with my
children when they were young and collect. The hours we spent were very
memorable. Thanks for preserving this site.\r\nBetty Elsea

colleen19 Mar 2009, 10:34

hi ive been mining all over the country,i just got back from arkansas,are
we aloud to mine on this property, if so how much would this cost,and what
type of gems are found at this site

Connie Davis06 Mar 2009, 11:43

I saw this mine on the travel channel and was very intrested in the rocks.
I'll never be able to get there but would like to purchuse one of these
rocks. How may I do this? Thank you

fred miller18 Jan 2009, 17:29

Are rockhounds like myself able to collect specimens at the talings dump ?
Is there any charge or permit needed.What can I expect to find in the
talings dump.\r\n\r\nThank You\r\n\r\nFred Miller

francis morales 11 Dec 2008, 13:12

i just have to say that the tour i went on was very good and exciting

CAROL KOWERDOVICH08 Dec 2008, 04:19

I was told you might like these for your museum. ebay listed....\r\nVintage
Miner's Safety Goggles BOX Coal Mine spectacles (140287485597)\r\n

Carolyn23 Nov 2008, 18:09

ARe you open Thanksgiving week?

eddy pitre19 Nov 2008, 08:03

i am interet in duging for gems do have some thing like that .. please let
me know.

Ricky Sanchez17 Oct 2008, 13:14

I visited Sterling Hill and all of this information is almost exactly as
described by the tour guide. I enjoyed reading this article, as I did
listening to the tour guide.

Joe Freilich13 Sep 2008, 11:40

Greetings all and Dick Hauck,\r\n\r\nI will be visiting with a good friend
from Australia in october...Dick, I hope you will be there...regards, Joe

Hi Viewers!\r\n\r\nMy Dad worked as a Shift Boss and then Surveyor Chief
from about 1947 to about 1960 when he retired. We lived at 7 Arch Street
in Ogdensburg, and I went to school there from Gr.6-8, and then on to
Franklin HS.\r\n\r\nMy Dad said to me, "Do anything you want, but DON'T BE
A MINING ENGINEER!", so I became a Mech'l Eng'r and Eng'g Professor,
instead. Our house on Arch St. still stands, but is rather different from
"my home".\r\n\r\nI'm very glad to see that the Ogdensburg Mine is now a
fabulous museum for "rock hounds"! Good hunting!\r\n\r\nCheers,\r\nClarke
Hermance

Denise and Wayne19 Apr 2008, 19:50

Mr.Cosby\r\nI too enjoyed this article, in fact I came across information
about the Sterling Mine last year and wanted to visit however I didn't have
time. My husband and I recently married and are in the process of restoring
the farm house he grew up in. The work continues but this summer we plan to
go to the mine. I'm sure we'll need the break. I'm excited to go as I have
never seen flourescent rocks. I have a small collection of various typical
rocks and minerals, but nothing too extraordinary. If you are still
interested in having someone collect for you, let me know. I'll check back
for notification of new comments. Have a great day!

I enjoyed this article very much and would like to visit the site, but am
disabled and probably can't. I am very interested in fluorescent rocks,
and have a substantial collection. Can you recommend someone, or some site
where I might purchase stones from these areas. It would be nice to have
contact with someone who would go to a site for me and collect some stones
for me. Thank you for considering my question. Richard Cosby

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